Alela Diane — To Be Still

Thanks to some early experimentation, Alela Diane was initially labelled a psych-folk artist. But her material on To Be Still — the follow-up to 2006's The Pirate's Gospel debut — has clearly migrated towards uncomplicated, plaintive and delicate country and folk (courtesy of some bluegrassy violin and banjo accompaniment).

On the whole, To Be Still is an uplifting affair, but it would be wise to avoid this album on days when you're in a bad mood. There's more than one track here that'll depress the hell out of you.

Diane has served plenty of time as an opener for the likes of The Decemberists and Akron/Family, but this album has the potential to finally pull her out from behind those bigger bands' shadows. Pick any song from To Be Still and it'll put $100 to shame, and give Zooey Deschanel and Jenny Lewis a run for their money. This album should easily make it on to every list of this year's best country discs.

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